One 'Buff' Mother

South Orange resident Monica Mangan, a personal trainer and owner of Buff Fitness, is not afraid to push her clients to work their hardest. However, the person she has continually pushed to the limit has been herself.

As a child, Mangan, now 44, always had a passion for exercise and fitness. "I had a very athletic background and in addition to being an avid athlete as a kid, I helped pay my way through college coaching figure skating," said Mangan, who grew up in Syracuse, N.Y. Post college, she worked in advertising until having her first son, now 19. After he was born, she decided to get back into coaching skating part time.

The family moved to Maplewood when Mangan was pregnant with twins. After the twins were born, Mangan sought a way of keeping herself sane as a mother of three young children. "I started taking exercise classes to get back in shape. It was my only outlet from three little kids under 3, so I went every day and got in great shape," she said. The more classes she took, the more Mangan felt she could be the teacher instead of the student. In 1998, she got certified to teach group exercise, then spinning, then water exercise. "Soon I was driving all over with my three kids in tow, teaching everywhere! I really needed a challenge beyond motherhood." 

As Mangan's career was took off, her 12-year marriage was crumbling. She knew she would have to take certain measures in order to be able to support herself and her children should her marriage end. She received her personal trainer certification in 2002 and shortly thereafter began working at Motion Fitness in Millburn full time. Now that she had benefits, she was able to end her marriage while raising her sons, 12 and 8, and 8-year-old daughter. However, the change wasn't easy. "The kids were little, demanding as they are. I was a basket case emotionally, scared and uncertain about my future."

Mangan worked at Motion for seven years, originally starting her career there as a spin instructor while also training clients privately at locations like The Connection in Summit and Can Do.

After her success at Motion, Mangan was ready to stretch her limists. Despite the dismal economy, once she heard about a fitness studio location at 331 Valley St. opening up, she knew the time was right to make a move. "I really needed a change and a new challenge. I was very excited about having my own business," said Mangan, who opened Buff Fitness in January 2009. At her studio, she trains nearly 30 clients, privately and semi-privately, and offers one group class a week, all with a focus on core strengthening.

Mangan continues to work hard on building her business. She works six days a week and takes Sundays off. "My hours are flexible but I often do 6 a.m. sessions in order to be home to get the kids off to school. I am back in the studio or training in private homes the rest of the day," she said. In addition, she continues to teach two spinning classes at the JCC. "I love it! It's a great escape from the studio and a change from the one-on-ones (or twos) I do all day." Her clients range from stay-at-home moms to JESPY House residents. "I have such a wide range of clients, and that is what makes it so interesting. Everyone has different needs," said Mangan. 

All in all, it's been a happily-ever-after story. "I got engaged in May, bought a house with my fiancé and moved to South Orange from Maplewood in August," she said. With one son in college, two children in high school and two new step-children, she juggles family life, her career and planning for a June wedding. No surprise, Mangan still continues to seek new experiences. "I've been writing newsletters, working on a Web site, networking, and hoping this year to collaborate more with other people in the industry to promote business, and broaden my knowledge to stay fresh and help my clients succeed in their goals.  I could never work for anyone again!"